Fellowship in the Kingdom Life
Fellowship in the Kingdom Life I John 1:1-4
Dan Brooks, Pastor Morning Service, 2/7/05
Monday>Carefully read I John 1 while looking for the word “fellowship.”
Introduction:
Praying for the Kingdom to Come. (1) God’s rule is the Believer’s first priority. (2) God’s will is the Believer’s first passion. This priority and passion translates into all of life. The rule and will of God should be the heart of our prayers. We are to be people who pray for the Kingdom to come.
Worshiping in the Kingdom Life. (1) The mercies of God are foundational to the Believer’s life. (2) The mercies of God move us to worship with all of our life.
When God rules in our hearts and when we are living in the conscious awareness of God’s mercies toward us, something else begins to happen.
Acts 1:3 tells us that Jesus spent 40 days “speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.” The last thing we read in the book of Acts is that Paul, though under house arrest, is “proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance” (Acts 28:31, ESV). If the Gospels introduce the Kingdom Message, then Acts unfolds the realities of the Kingdom work.
Look at Acts 2 with me and note that the Kingdom message begins to have a radical effect upon the citizens of Jerusalem.
Acts 2:42 states that one of the immediate effects of the Kingdom message at Pentecost is that it created a new culture, a gathering of people characterized by four things: And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
What is this thing called “fellowship”? Is it comprised of the activities we typically refer to as fellowship? Does it always include food or games or social interaction? Is that fellowship? And why do we actually have a part of our facility named “Fellowship Hall”?
The Scriptures will show us this morning that fellowship is something far richer and more spiritually significant than social interaction.
Jerry Bridges wisely and poignantly writes “the idea of fellowship as a term for Christian social activity utterly empties the word of its New Testament meaning.”[1]
Among all the things that the early church could have devoted itself to and along with doctrine, breaking of bread, and prayers, fellowship became paramount. We need to know why.
To understand the foundation of fellowship, we need to turn to 1 John, p. 899 in your pew Bible.
Tuesday>Thoughtfully consider I John 1:1-3 and the other references in today’s portion of the notes.
I. Fellowship originates in A Shared Relationship with Christ.
A. Christ is the subject of our message (1:1-3a).
1. that . . . which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled of the Word of life; . . . that which we have seen and heard
a. This is something that John states he and others have experienced with the senses of the body, sight, sound, and touch.
b. What have John and others experienced?
c. John 21:24-25 (NKJV) 24 This is the disciple who testifies of these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony is true. 25 And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.
d. The life and ministry of Christ.
e. The Word (Jesus Christ, the Son of God) is real!
2. declare we unto you:
a. ἀπαγγέλλω: we tell you openly and frankly
b. 1 John 5:13 (NKJV) These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.
c. ἵνα: for the purpose of . . .
1) Think about this!
2) John says, “You want to know why I have lived the way I have? You want to know why I’m writing this letter?”
3. Κοινωνία:
a. Luke 5:10 And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. (A derivative form that speaks of those who have a share in the same business, shareholders in the same enterprise.)
b. Phil 1:5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;
c. 2 Cor 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
d. 2 Cor 8:4 Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of [or participating or sharing in] the ministering to the saints.
e. Def.: a close relationship which develops as a result of something shared in common.
f. This close relationship is what we call fellowship.
g. “koinōnía is a favorite term in 1 John for the living bond that unites Christians.”[2]
Questions: What is the primary subject of your communication with other believers? Are you purposefully communicating Christ to people you consider “partners” in the Christian life?
Wednesday>What is the basis for the close relationship of which John is writing? Give attention to I John 1:3 and the other references in today’s portion of the notes.
B. Christ is the substance of our fellowship (1:3b).
1. Our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.
a. This is not uncommon to the NT.
b. 1 Cor 1:9 (NKJV) 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
c. 2 Peter 1:3-4 (ESV) 3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.
2. Point: This is significant. John seeks a relationship with these people exclusively through Christ.
a. 2 Cor 5:16 “from now on we regard no one according to the flesh.”
b. Gal 3:28 (KJV) There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
c. Acts 2 -- 17 people groups and maybe more, brought into intimate relationship because of Christ!
d. The early Church prized their share in Christ more than they prized being Parthian, Mede, Elamite, Mesopotamian, Judean and Cappadocian, Pontian, Asian, Phrygian, Pamphylian, Egyptian, Libyan, Cyrenian, Roman, Jewish, Cretan and Arabian (Acts 2:9-11).
e. A kingdom share in Christ eclipses every other distinction.
3. Point: Real fellowship cannot be found apart from Christ.
Questions: What is the basis for your interactions with others? Your primary subjects of conversation are indications of what you truly see as common points or shared experiences with others. Outside of weekly times at church, what about your regular activities with others? Are you trying to experience fellowship with people but apart from Christ?
Thursday>Reread I John 1:1-4.
II. Fellowship culminates in Full Joy.
A. Real joy is dependent upon real fellowship.
1. that or
a. I write this in order that . . .
b. 2:1 . . . that you sin not
c. 5:13 . . . that you may know that you have eternal life.
2. our joy may be complete
a. John says, “My joy and yours is incomplete unless we get this thing of fellowship sorted out.”
b. Joy: state of great happiness or gladness
c. Full: to make something complete
3. “Fellowship means belonging to one another in the Body of Christ, along with all the privileges and responsibilities that such a relationship entails.”[3]
4. In this short letter, John tells us that there is one thing that gives birth to complete joy. It is not an artificial spirituality or superior enlightenment. Complete joy does not come through some cult-like self-denial or Christless, sin-imbibing license.
B. Point: The believer’s joy is completed in a genuine, close relationship with others in Christ.
1. In Christ there is no spiritual aristocracy. In Christ there are not two different classes of people.
2. In Christ there is one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all (Eph 4:4-6).
3. Stott: “We cannot be content with . . . a church life whose principle of cohesion is a superficial social camaraderie instead of a spiritual fellowship with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.”[4]
4. And I would add, “And with His people.”
Questions: How often to you have a good time with others but yet there is something lacking? How often have you interacted with others through praises, singing, sharing Scriptures, or prayer and not experienced joy in Christ? For example, have you ever been tired on your way to midweek service but been refreshed and uplifted through fellowshipping in Christ?
Friday>Seek to memorize I John 1:3. The application questions are included in today’s portion of the notes.
III. Application:
A. We must learn to prize our one another because of our common share in Christ.
1. We must prize our share in Christ more than we prize our earthly shares.
2. True fellowship and complete joy are not found in holding common shares of Ford Motor Company.
3. True fellowship and complete joy are not found in holding a common ethnic background.
4. The early Church prized their share in Christ more than they prized being Parthian, Mede, Elamite, Mesopotamian, Judean and Cappadocian, Pontian, Asian, Phrygian, Pamphylian, Egyptian, Libyan, Cyrenian, Roman, Jewish, Cretan and Arabian (Acts 2:9-11).
5. True fellowship and complete joy are not found in holding a common love for golf or hunting or sports cars or gourmet coffee or Bunko.
6. A common employer like BMW or even a Christian institution like Bob Jones University is not the basis of Christian fellowship.
a. What happens when you meet someone outside the BMW family?
b. What happens when you meet someone outside the BJU family?
7. Christ and our relationship with Him is the preeminent share. And that relationship with Him is what binds us eternally together and creates a unique partnership and defines us.
8. This is why we must prize our share in Christ more than we prize our earthly shares.
Saturday>As you consider the questions in this section, what does I John 3:16-18 teach us about living out the reality of our fellowship in Christ?
B. We must commit ourselves to one another because of our common share in Christ.
1. “We will be concerned for the needs of others in the Body only to the extent that we see fellowship as primarily a mutual relationship in Christ among members of the same spiritual organism.”[5]
2. That mutual relationship in Christ is what moved the Church at Jerusalem to devote themselves to one another.
a. They shared the Kingdom message.
b. They shared their material possessions.
c. They shared the poverty and wealth alike.
d. They shared the sorrows and joys of individual families.
e. They shared the missionary burden and responsibility of the Apostles.
f. The mutual relationship in Christ moved them to that kind of devotion one to another.
3. Are you devoted to this body?
a. Do you see yourself eternally and irrevocably united to the people around you?
b. Have you considered the priority of the Church?
c. I don’t mean the organization, but the organism, the Church as the living, breathing, growing, serving body of Christ?
4. Point: To this point, some of you have looked at church the way you look at grocery stores.
a. Who has the best deals, at the best price, at the most convenient location.
b. Jesus doesn’t market His Church for consumers.
c. He builds His Church by personal sacrifice, by purchasing the release of slaves to sin and death with His own blood, by transforming those slaves from every tongue, tribe, and nation into one new people.
d. That work of Christ is what makes the person next to you so very precious!
e. And some of you have not even spoken to the ones seated next to you.
f. You don’t understand the complete joy you are missing!
5. Point: This is why a church picnic, a hospital visit, a phone call, a Caregivers morning, or a Shepherding Group and not just church attendance are so important to you.
Questions: Ask God to help you know how to share in the joy and the suffering of others? Who has God brought within your sphere of contacts needing fellowship in Christ through a visit, phone call, or email? Do you have some time or some of this world’s goods that you can share with someone in need?
Sunday>Ponder the questions God asked of Job in Chapter 38 as you prepare your heart to worship the Lord our Maker today.
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[1]Bridges, Jerry, The Crisis of Caring: Recovering the Meaning of True Fellowship, P&R Publishing, 16.
[2]Kittel, G., Friedrich, G., & Bromiley, G. W. (1985; Published in electronic form by Logos Research Systems, 1996). Theological dictionary of the New Testament (electronic ed.). Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans.
[3]Bridges, 17.
[4]Stott, 64.
[5]Bridges, 21.